NEW!

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

A GOLDEN THREAD of DEVOTION to the VIRGIN MARY

Introduction: A Story of Assisi

Two pilgrims make their way to the Carceri, the hermitage nestled high in the slope of Mount Subasio, which looms over the walled city of Assisi. Francis and his first followers retreated here from the world. They walked in these woods. They dug shallow caves in these woods. They prayed here for the courage to live according to the gospel and for the whole Church.

Eight centuries later, a small convent remains. It was built over the cave of the little poor one of Assisi. A community of friars and nuns remains, too. They live and pray and work by the rule established by Francis so long ago. They lovingly maintain the place where Francis came to pray and rest.

Our two pilgrims had been here before, but the ancient chapels and the stairway to the cave of Saint Francis had always been closed. The day is dark. Heavy rain is falling. But today, the chapels and stairway are open. They descend into the depths of the ancient convent. They pray in the chapels. They pray at the cave of the saint. They walk outside in the rain along paths covered with a thick blanket of fallen leaves.

They re-enter the convent and again approach the cave that shielded Francis from the harsh weather of this mountain retreat. An old nun appears. She waters a peace lily with a plastic jug. She excuses herself and leaves. The pilgrims climb up the low and narrow stairway and return to the chapels.

One pilgrim briefly remains behind. He sits on a stone step before a simple altar. An aged and faded fresco of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the only decoration. He prays silently. In the chapel nearby, the nun returns. She busies herself by sweeping the floor. When the pilgrim leaves, then nun greets him with a smile and watery eyes. She looks deep into his eyes. She takes him by the hand and says: "It is good that you pray to the Blessed Mother. It is good. God bless you." Astonished, the pilgrim leaves quickly, deeply moved by the goodness and simple wisdom of this woman who has dedicated her entire life to prayer and service.

Solemn Novena of the Immaculate Conception:

Praying for Our Parish Family

It is good that we pray for the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession! As those striving to become Franciscans in spirit, this story reminds us that Francis and Clare were devoted to the Virgin Mary. They found solace and strength in her prayers for them. In prayer, they did not see Mary adorned with royal crowns and vestments. Rather, they saw her as she lived on earth: a simple maiden; always poor, humble, and ever ready to accept and act upon God's will. Her motto was their motto: "Let it be done unto me according to your word (Luke 1:38)."

Love for and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary has been called the "golden thread" of the worldwide Franciscan community: an unbroken thread of prayer and service that extends from Francis and Clare to the present day. As "Franciscans in Spirit", some of us are single. Some of us are married. Some of us are parents and grandparents. Some of us are widowed. However, all of us share a common vocation: prayer and service.

Each year, beginning on November 29th and concluding on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Franciscans throughout the world pray the Solemn Novena of the Immaculate Conception. Let us join in this annual tradition by praying this novena. Let us dedicate our prayers for our own sake, but most especially for the needs and concerns of our parish family.

Click HERE for the Solemn Novena of the Immaculate Conception!

For our parish community, we pray: Hail Mary...

For our departed brothers and sisters, we pray: Hail Mary...

For the Church throughout the world, we pray: Hail Mary....

Our Father...

Almighty God and Father,

accept the prayers we offer in preparation for the feast

of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As we proclaim her to have been preserved from all sin by your grace,

Grant that through her intercession,

we and our parish family may be freed from our sins.

We make our prayer through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!

NEW!

ASSISI PROJECT ADVENT SPECIAL EVENT

THE FRANCISCAN ROSARY

Saturday, December 11th at 9:00am

Saturday, December 18th at 9:00am

All are welcome to join the Assisi Project in praying the Franciscan or "Crown" Rosary on Saturday, December 11th and Saturday, December 18th at 9:00am in the Parish Center Conference Room (second floor). The Franciscan Rosary is a perfect compliment to our life or prayer during Advent because it teaches us to meditate on seven joyful episodes in the life of the Mother of God.

In the early middle ages, most Christians were unable to read or understand the scriptures. At the dawn of the thirteenth century, a new sequence of prayer was introduced so that these believers could maintain their relationship with God through the scriptures. In this way, the Rosary was born. In short order, it became one of the most popular forms of personal prayer and devotion. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Franciscan Rosary was introduced.

According to tradition, a young Franciscan was tempted to abandon his vocation. He was visited by the Virgin Mary who encouraged him in prayer and in the Franciscan way of life. The Mother of God taught him to meditate each day upon seven joyful episodes in her life: the Annunciation; the Visitation; the Nativity; the Adoration of the Magi; the finding of Jesus in the temple; the encounter with the risen Jesus; and her crowning as Queen of Heaven.

The Franciscan Rosary is prayed like a normal rosary, but consists of seven decades (not five), followed by two additional Hail Marys. The total of 72 prayers represents the age reached by the Virgin Mary in her life on earth. The Franciscan Rosary concludes with an Our Father, a Hail Mary, a Glory Be, the Hail Holy Queen, and a final prayer.

If you have questions, need more information, or would like to join us in praying the Franciscan Rosary, please contact Cliff Garvey at c_garvey@rcabcuria.org. Please join us! All are welcome! May the Lord give you peace during this blessed season of Advent!

ASSISI PROJECT 2010

THIRD ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

NOVEMBER 6 THROUGH NOVEMBER 13

For nearly three years, 30 members of our faith community have dedicated themselves to living more deeply as disciples of Christ through their shared devotion to Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Their spiritual journey has included Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, scripture and book studies, monthly suppers, and a fall weekend retreat.

From Saturday, November 6th through Saturday, November 13th, six members of our faith community participated in our third annual pilgrimage and retreat to Assisi and Rome, Italy. During their week-long journey, these pilgrims literally walked in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare, pray at their tombs, and tour Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The trip was not a vacation or tour, but rather a serious spiritual exercise. Our pilgrims lived with the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, prayed together at Mass and during Morning, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer, engaged in discussion and faith sharing, and shared simple meals.

What follows below are daily posts from our week in Assisi and Rome. We hope that these posts provide you with some sense of the peace that pervades Assisi and the awesome majesty of Saint Peter's Basilica and Vatican City.

If you would like to learn more about the Assisi Project and our opportunities for adult faith formation, retreat, and pilgrimage both at home and abroad, please contact Cliff Garvey at c_garvey@rcabcuria.org. May the Lord give you peace!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

ARRIVAL IN ASSISI

Sunday, November 7, 2010 (Day One)

Buongiorno! After a seven hour flight from Boston to Roma on Alitalia and after a harrowing three hours on the highways of Italy, we six pilgrims have arrived in Assisi, weary and tired but overjoyed to be back! Sister Denise welcomed us with open arms to the Saint Anthony Guesthouse. We are excited about beginning this retreat and pilgrimage together and praying with the saints of Assisi, Francis and Clare!

This afternoon will be a quiet afternoon. The pilgrims will gather in the small chapel in the guesthouse for Mass and evening prayer together at 6:00pm and then head out for a delicious supper. And it will be early to bed.

Please keep us in your prayers as we will remember all of you in ours!

May the Lord give you peace!

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Claire, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT RETREAT & PILGRIMAGE

BECOMING LITTLE CHRISTS

Monday Morning, November 8, 2010 (Day Two)

Buongiorno! May the Lord give you peace!

We awoke this morning to a cloudy and overcast day in Assisi. We enjoyed a simple breakfast of fresh breads and cereals and coffee and juice. Following breakfast, we gathered in the chapel for Morning Prayer and returned to the library for our first conference of the retreat.

Along with the Liturgy of the Hours and personal prayer, we are also using a small book by Albert Haase, O.F.M. titled "Reflections on the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi." In each chapter of the book, Father Haase shares reflections on each line of the Peace Prayer (see below). In the first four chapters, Father Haase invites us to become more like Christ in our lives and follow the Divine Master. The prayer encourages each of us to move from the ego of "me" to "thee" opening and sharing our lives.

Father Haase writes:

"We realize and acknowledge that the universe was not designed to revolve around me and my petty wants and desires. Indeed, by virtue of my baptism, I am called to walk in the footprints of Jesus, who, in emptying himself, surrendering and serving God's will, has become the Lord and Divine Master of the universe. (p. 12-13)"

After the conference, we had some quiet personal time and celebrated Mass. This afternoon, we will have a pilgrimage walk through Assisi, led by a local guide by the name of Romana. And in the evening, we will gather for Evening Prayer and dinner.

We invite you to pray each day with us the Peace Prayer for your intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTER

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 (Day Three)

Buongiorno! May the Lord give you peace!

Yesterday afternoon, we had a "pilgrim's walk" through the town of Assisi, following the footsteps of Francis and Clare. We met our guide, Romana, at the Basilica of Saint Clare and learned that it was built after Clare's death to protect her tomb and house the community of Poor C

lares. In addition, the Sisters brought with them the crucifix that had spoken to Francis in the Church of San Damiano. Today, the chiesa is still active with a cloistered community of sisters who take care of the church, the crucifix and the body of their mother Saint Clare with love and devotion.

We continued our walk to the Piazza Commune, the c

enter of town, where Francis had renounced his wealth and his earthly father. It is there that Francis begin his public ministry. We continued in our journey to the Basilica of San Francis which is actually three churches.

The original Lower Basilica was built in the

13th century immediately after Francis was canonized (about a year after his death). The Lower Basilica was built to protect Francis' remains since it would have been a prized possession. His remains remained unknown under the Lower Basilica until the 19th century when a crypt Church was built and opened for pilgrims to come and venerate the relics of Saint Francis. This morning, we will be celebrating Mass in the crypt in front of the remains of Saint Francis. Celebrating Mass in the crypt is a great honor and was arranged by our friend, Archbishop Francisco Viti who had visited Boston last month and spent time with the Assisi Project group and the community of faith at Saint Anthony's in Cambridge. We will celebrate Mass with the intentions of the Assisi Project and the parishioners at Saint Charles in Woburn and Saint Anthony in Cambridge.

Our final stop on the pilgrim's walk was the Upper Basilica where we can see the life of Saint Francis depicted in 24 frescoes painted by Giotto. Stunning! Beautiful!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

WHERE THERE IS INJURY, PARDON

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 (Day Three)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

This morning's conference focused on the two seeds of injury & pardon and doubt & faith. Father Haase challenges us in his reflections about the requirement that our Master Jesus has for each of us - to forgive. We forgive, Father H

aase writes, not because it's rational but because it is a requirement. Forgiveness can be a cure for closure in our lives. We do not forget the memories of the hurts when we forgive or we are not left without scars, but the wounds are no longer bleeding. Father Haase continues that forgiving is a decision and a commitment to "thee." Again, we are moving from "me" to "you".

At the end of the chapter on his reflection about pardoning, Father Haase concludes:

"Having asked to sow the seeds of love amid hatred, I am now reminded that the hatred often grows out of an injury inflicted upon me. This prayer suggests that I possess the ability to close the door on hurts and betrayals. It is a simple act of the will: I refuse to dwell on "me" and my wounds. Indeed, I can experience a dimension of Easter peace by dedicating myself to "thee" and offering love, pardon and forgiveness consistently, freely, and unconditionally to anyone who injures me.

Take time today to reflect on the grudges and resentments in your life and ask our Master Jesus to help enlighten the choices needed to lead to dialogue, understanding and closure. And we invite you to pray with us the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (Day Four)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

As pilgrims to Assisi, we hope for good weather for our walks and quiet times outdoors. Yet, the weather so far has been unpredictable this week. We arrived on Sunday with partly cloudy skies and peaks of the sun. Monday, cloudy with periods of rain and some sun in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, Tuesday brought torrential downpours throughout the day. Many of the Assisi Project pilgrims got caught in these downpours. And yet, even in the midst of the rains cascading down the streets of Assisi and battering the windows of the guesthouse or soaking the clothing of the pilgrims, there is still beauty. As Francis would sing, O Brother Rain!

There was an incredible double rainbow in the late afternoon over Assisi. These pictures were taken from the guest house. And as the afternoon waned, Brother Sun began his daily setting and provided a beautiful backdrop to the Basilica of Saint

Clare.

We continue to pray for all of our families and friends back home, for the intentions of the Assisi Project, and of our faith communities at Sai

nt Charles and Saint Anthony. We invite you to pray with us the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT RETREAT & PILGRIMAGE

SEEDS OF HOPE & LIGHT

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (Day Four)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

This morning, we reflected on Father Albert's Haase's chapters on hope and light. In our lives as disciples of the Master Jesus, we encounter moments, times, and situations of pain, hurt, darkness, and hopelessness. Yet, as disciples of the Master and following in his footsteps, we are also called to hope. Hope, as Father Haase defines it, is "an emotion that literally saves us from the present moment we struggle to accept. It gives near-sighted, fixated on the disappointment or tragedy before "me", a pair of glasses to look beyond - to tomorrow, next month, next

year (p. 41)."

Hope is forward looking and inspires us with God's grace to keep pushing ahead, to rebuild, to go beyond the moment. In our baptismal and funeral liturgies, the Church gives us signs of hope and of light - the Easter candle, the white garment, the holy water. All these symbols and actions of blessing with the holy water, wearing the white garment and lighting the Pashcal candle remind each one of us of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. From the moment of baptism of becoming a new creation in Christ until the moment of death, our lives look forward with the hope of eternal life with Christ in heaven. And not only life with the Lord but with all of our loved ones.

Father Haase concludes that "godly deeds such as love, forgiveness, consolation, understanding and charity mentioned in the Peace Prayer, illumine a world often darkened by the ego's hatred, revenge, callousness, apathy and greed. Such deeds flare up from these insights burning and fanned within the hearts of the enlightened (p. 51)."

Today, take time to think about those moments in your life where you may have experienced despair, hopelessness, darkness, hurt or disapp

ointment. What gave you hope? Who gave you hope? Where did the light come from?

We invite you to pray with us the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

Thursday, November 11, 2011 (Day Five)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

Yesterday, we visited the sanctuary of San Damiano where Francis first heard the call to conversion through the cross hanging in that church. Later, the sanctuary would house the first community of Poor Clares with Clare, her sister Agnes and others. It is also the spot where Clare died. The sanctuary is a short walk (one mile) from the walls of Assisi and we intended to walk. However, the rains came just as the pilgrims were making their way through the Porta Nuova and out of Assisi. So, we took a taxi. We spent a few minutes walking through the convent and then prayed a holy hour in the same church where Francis prayed. There was a heavenly silence and quiet which helped us listen for the voice of Christ in our own hearts.

This morning (Thursday), we continued with our retreat including morning prayer, conference and Mass. During the conference, we reflected on the seeds of joy and trying to console, understand, and love others. These actions can help each one of us move from the "me" to the "thee" as we have prayed with the Peace Prayer.

Tonight, we are heading to the Basilica of Saint Clare for sung Vespers with the cloistered sisters. In the chapel of Saint George we will listen to the psalms sung in Italian under the San Damiano cross, the one which

spoke to Francis. It is always a joy to be there for Vespers!

Finally, we will have dinner with Bishop Francisco Viti, our spiritual father and friend. It will be our last meal in Assisi as we end our retreat here and begin our journey home via Rome and Vatican City!

We continue to pray for each of you. Please pray for us! We invite you to pray with us the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many n

ot so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

CHURCH OF SAN DAMIANO

Thursday, November 11, 2010 (Day Five)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace! Here are a few photographs from our time spent in prayer at San Damiano.

This is the entrance to the Church and to the cloister. There is still a small but active community of friars and sisters here.

In the cloister, we can walk through where Clare and her original community lived and prayed. The picture above shows the spot where Saint Clare died on August 11, 1253. A simple flame burns to remind us of the presence of such a holy woman.

Saint Francis would come numerous times to San Damiano before and after his conversion. Near the end of his life he would spend time here praying and writing the "Canticle of the Creatures." This statue sits outside the church and cloister overlooking the valley.

Pace e Bene!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

DEPARTING ASSISI FOR ROME

Friday, November 12, 2010 (Day Six)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

After a wonderful week of retreat and pilgrimage, we finally had to say good-bye to Assisi and to the sisters at the guesthouse and make our way home via Rome.

We celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at 7:00am local time (1:00am EST) with Sister Alessandra and Sister Sue. During the Mass, the pilgrims were presented with a Tau and a wood engraving print of Saint Francis as keepsakes of their retreat in Assisi. We hope these small gifts will remind the pilgrims this year's retreat and encourage them to remain close to the Lord with the help of Francis

and Clare. The pilgrims were presented with the Tau with these words: "Christ is counting on you!" And the pilgrims each responded: "And I on him!" There were bittersweet tears of joy and sadness!

After Mass we had our usual simple breakfast of fresh bread, coffee, and juice. We packed our things. A few pilgrims walked to the Basilica of Saint Clare to say goodbye and we gathered for morning prayer. After many hugs and goodbyes to the Sisters, we hopped in our small van driven by a Roman local by name of Sergio. If you think Boston driving is bad, take a ride with Sergio! The handles came into much use in that car! Dio mio!

We have arrived in Roma and our hotel near Saint Peter's Basilica. The pilgrims our heading out to visit the basilica and the neighborhood surrounding Vatican City. We will gather later for a short conference and dinner. Check back later for some pictures and some final words. Tomorrow, we depart for home.

We continue to pray for each of you. Please pray for us! We invite you to pray the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much

seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint Peter & Saint Paul, pray for us!

Holy martyrs of Rome, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIM

AGE & RETREAT

VATICAN CITY & SAINT PETER'S BASILICA

Friday Evening, November 12, 2010 (Day Six)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

It has been a hectic day after restful and peaceful retreat and pilgrimage to Assisi. The city of Roma has always been fast paced and noisy, even around the Vatican. But we pilgrims had a wonderful afternoon visiting the Basilica de San Pietro and enjoying a great dinner and making a quick stop at the Trevi Fountain to ensure our return to Rome! Below are a few pictures from our afternoon in the Eternal City:

View of San Pietro from the Hotel Columbus

The main aisle in Saint Peter's Basilica

In the rear of the Saint Peter's Basilica is a chapel with this beautiful stain-glassed window of the Holy Spirit. In the late afternoon, the sun come through this window and it is breathtaking!

Saint Peter's Basilica at night

As always, we continue to pray for each of you. Please pray for us! We invite you to pray the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & G

lory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Claire, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint Peter & Saint Paul, pray for us!

Holy martyrs of Rome, pray for us!

ASSISI PROJECT PILGRIMAGE & RETREAT

GOODBYE, ITALY!

Saturday, November 13, 2010 (Day Seven)

Salve! May the Lord give you peace!

With sadness in our hearts, we are finishing packing and preparing to leave for the airport in a few minutes. Our time in Italy, especially our retreat and pilgrimage in Assisi, has been a grace offered by our Master Jesus. As we leave Italy this morning, we are each challenged to live the lessons of the Peace Prayer in our lives. In a particular way, it is in giving that we receive. And this week, our Master Jesus has given us much in prayer and pilgrimage. It is now our turn to give to others and share the love of Christ with our brothers and sisters.

We are scheduled on Alitalia Flight 614 at 10:00am (4:00am EST) and we will arrive in Boston around 1:30pm. We will then have to clear customs and passport control and hopefully we be meeting our rides around 2:00pm. You can follow our progress at www.flightview.com. The airline code is AZ and flight number is 614. Pray for safe travels and return for us!

As always, we continue to pray for each of you. Please pray for us! We invite you to pray the Peace Prayer for your own personal intentions and the intentions of the Assisi Project:

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I many not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be . . .

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Saint Clare, pray for us!

Holy men and women of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint Peter & Saint Paul, pray for us!

Holy martyrs of Rome, pray for us!